The Cowboys won't be letting Osa Odighizuwa hit free agency.
Dallas re-signed the defensive tackle to a four-year, $80 million contract, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported on Tuesday. The deal includes $58 million guaranteed, per Rapoport and Garafolo.
The Cowboys officially announced the new deal later Tuesday.
Rapoport reported earlier Tuesday morning that the Cowboys were more likely to franchise tag Odighizuwa as a placeholder while the sides continued talks toward a long-term deal. But with only a few hours left before the tag deadline, the sides were able to come to an agreement to keep the DT in Dallas.
A third-round pick in 2021, Odighizuwa notched career highs in sacks (4.5), QB hits (23) and tackles (47) in 2024, the final year of his rookie contract, and the 26-year-old has been a reliable presence in the trenches after starting all 17 games in each of the past three seasons.
Odighizuwa was ranked No. 7 overall on Gregg Rosenthal's Top 101 Free Agents list and as the second-best DT option behind Milton Williams.
Instead of letting their ascending defensive lineman hit the open market, the Cowboys will retain Odighizuwa to prevent a potential mass exodus on their defensive front. Longtime standout Demarcus Lawrence, Carlos Watkins, Linval Joseph and Chauncey Golston are among the Cowboys defensive linemen set to hit free agency when the new league year begins on March 12.
Getting Odighizuwa under contract is the first step toward Dallas being "selectively aggressive" this offseason, as co-owner and COO Stephen Jones put it on Feb. 24.
An extension for star defender Micah Parsons is the big-ticket item that awaits in Dallas.
